Hardware store property may become dining patio

By Scott Rawdon

THORNVILLE – Firehouse Pizza co-owner Joseph Langwasser isn’t certain yet what he plans to do with the former Thornville Hardware Store property, but there’s a good possibility it could be outdoor seating.

Firehouse Pizza owners Joseph and Lilly Langwasser offered to purchase the property, which is adjacent to their pizza shop, for $11,501. The only other bid the village received was for $5,100.

“Council passed an ordinance (Tuesday night) accepting the (Langwassers’) bid and authorizing the village administrator to proceed with the sale,” said Thornville Mayor Gavin Renner.

Last September, the village razed the old hardware store, which was in extremely poor condition. There was some debate over whether to try to restore the building for its historical value, but the village received a $60,000 donation to raze the building, provided the village accepted the donation by Sept. 1 of last year.